How do I check a shoe store’s sizes and stock depth by season?

Shoes are stock with two problems: sizes and seasons. A style may be sold out in the middle sizes while the rest sit unsold. Ask for sales by size over a few years and see where demand falls. Then walk the shelves and count what is on hand in those sizes. Imbalance shows where money is stuck.

Look at the seasons. Winter boots, sandals and school shoes each have a window. Ask when seasonal stock arrives, when it peaks and when it is marked down. Check how the shop handles last season’s pairs. Are they cleared, stored for next year or left on the shelf indefinitely?

Check the back room, not just the floor. Ask whether the system tracks size-level stock or only totals by style. If it does not, the book figure will not tell you how much is saleable. Ask your accountant how end-of-season leftovers should be treated in the deal. Also ask the owner how reorders work and whether the shop can restock mid-season, since that changes how much depth it must hold. Ask how the owner decides how many pairs of each size to buy. A clear, consistent method is a good sign.

Key takeaways

• Get sales by size and compare them with a physical count of what is on hand.
• Ask when seasonal stock arrives and how leftover pairs are cleared.
• Check whether the stock system tracks sizes or only styles in total.